More than 80 tonnes of waste have been saved from landfill thanks to the efforts of 40 Ealing schools.

Since Ealing Council launched its schools’ recycling scheme at the beginning of the 2009/10 academic year, 49 tonnes of food waste and 32 tonnes of cardboard have been saved from the tip by environmentally conscious youngsters.

Fifteen schools started the scheme in the autumn term, with 25 more joining during the school year. Now the council is aiming to roll the service out to the rest of the borough’s schools from this September.

The service was launched at Wood End Junior School because one of their former pupils won a competition to design the livery for the schools’ recycling truck. Cabinet member for Transport and Environment, Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, returned to the school to congratulate pupils on their efforts and find out how £500 in prize money, donated to the school by recycling contractor May Gurney, was spent.

Councillor Bassam Mahfouz said: “These young people have been doing a fantastic job and I think they are great role models for the rest of us. This scheme has been really successful and I’m delighted we’re now going to be rolling it out to the rest of the schools across the borough.”

Head Teacher Mrs Anne Hayes said: “We regularly discuss issues like climate change and recycling at school and many of our pupils are really keen to do their bit for the environment. We even have a group of children who volunteer to take part in litter picking around the school grounds to help keep the area clean and prevent birds from swallowing rubbish. They are very proud that they can now see the school acting responsibly and recycling all our waste food and cardboard.”